Fast-load weight plate system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a fast-load weight plate system, wherein a weight plate, a linkage assembly and a stop block are provided. The weight plate is provided with a radially arranged straight slot that runs from the middle of the weight plate to its outer edge, The stop block is attached to the weight plate and blocks the straight slot; one end of the linkage assembly is movably connected to the handle of the weight plate and the other end is rotatably connected to the stop block. The linkage assembly is used to rotate the stop block to unblock the straight slot; such arrangement promises an easy loading and unloading process that takes up less space.

REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application 202110700945.4, filed on Jun. 21, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FILED OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to fitness equipment, and specifically to a fast-load weight plate system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A barbell is common fitness equipment which can be loaded with different weight plates to effectively target specific muscle groups of the body in strength training programs.

The conventional loading of the weight plate is sliding it in from the two sides, so to access the inner plate, all the outer plates must be removed first, which is very time-consuming and troublesome. In addition, such a side-loading process requires a large space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the issue that the loading and unloading of the weight plate is not convenient and requires a large space.

The present invention, relates to a fast-load weight plate system, provides the weight plate, a linkage assembly and a stop block. The weight plate is provided with a straight slot arranged in a radial direction. The straight slot is provided with a limit end located in the middle of the weight plate and a slot opening all the way to the outer edge of the weight plate. The stop block is rotatably attached to the weight plate and located outside the straight slot. The linkage assembly is movably attached to the weight plate at one end and rotatably connected to the stop block at the other end. The linkage assembly is arranged to rotate the stop block into the straight slot for effectively securing the barbell within the limit end.

The above-mentioned arrangement provides the following benefits: the weight plate can be directly inserted into the barbell in the radial direction through the slot on the weight plate, and then the barbell is secured between the limit end of the straight slot and the stop block by rotating the stop block with the linkage assembly to block the end of the straight slot; comparing to the conventional side-loading method, this solution requires less loading space, and allows each weight plate located on the inside of the barbell to be loaded or unloaded independently, which is more convenient and practical.

Preferably, the weight plate is provided with an internal holding cavity, and the stop block and the linkage assembly are both located inside the holding cavity to be protected from the damage caused by bumping.

Preferably, the straight slot is located in the lower part of the weight plate, and the larger part of the holding cavity is in the upper part of the weight plate, which pushes the center of gravity of the weight plate down to its lower part and ensures that the center of gravity of each loaded weight plate remains at its lower part, so that the issue of unstable center of gravity caused by uneven weight distribution can be avoided for physical training, and the weight plate can be easily unloaded from the barbell.

Preferably, the upper side wall of the limit end of the straight slot is provided with a curved weight-bearing bump to compensate for the reduced strength of the part connecting the weight plate and the barbell caused by the holding cavity.

Preferably, the linkage assembly comprises a drive rod and a limit rod. The limit rod is rotatably connected to the weight plate. One end of the limit rod is movably connected to the stop block. The weight plate is provided with a socket on its side that runs all the way to the holding cavity, while the drive rod is slidably inserted into the socket. The drive rod comprises a first end located outside of the weight plate and a second end located inside the holding cavity. The second end of the drive rod pushes the limit rod to rotate, enabling the user to easily adjust the rotation angle of the stop block by pushing and pulling the limit rod.

Preferably, the limit rod is provided with a waist-shaped hole at its end, and the stop block is provided with a pin snap-fitted inside the waist-shaped hole, so that the limit rod and the stop block are moveably connected for the easy mounting of the linkage assembly.

Preferably, two pieces of connecting rod are also provided. There are two pairs of the stop block and limit rod both symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the straight slot, with one end of each connecting rod hinged to the other end of each limit rod and the other end of each connecting rod hinged to the second end of the drive rod, which allows the stop block to be more securely locked against the barbell.

Preferably, a spring is provided between the first end of the drive rod and the inner side wall of the holding cavity. The spring pushes the drive rod to slide toward the holding cavity, which then rotates the stop block into the straight slot to secure the barbell within the limit end of the straight slot and stops the barbell from dislodging from the straight slot.

Preferably, the stop block is provided with an arc-shaped catching part on the side toward the limit end of the straight slot, and the distance between the two stop blocks on the side near the slot opening of the straight slot gradually decreases in the direction toward the limit end, so that the barbell can directly squeeze through the area between the two stop blocks from the outside until it reaches the limit end of the straight slot, at which time the stop block is pushed back into the straight slot by the spring, and then the barbell is in contact with the catching part on the stop block. Therefore, the automatic securing process is effectively completed.

Preferably, the first end of the drive rod is provided with a rotatable handle, and the outer side of the weight plate is provided with a recess to house the handle, and the stop block blocks the slot opening of the straight slot when the handle is in contact with the bottom of the recess, and the stop block unblocks the slot opening of the straight slot when the handle is in contact with the outer side of the weight plate, so that the user can easily lift and turn the handle to adjust the position of the drive rod, and can easily pick up the weight plates when they are stacked together.

Preferably, a locking shaft is also provided. The weight plate is provided with a through hole along the axial direction at a location between the stop block and the side wall of the holding cavity. The locking shaft is removably inserted into the through hole, so that when multiple weight plates are loaded onto the barbell, the locking shaft can be inserted into the through holes of all weight plates loaded on the same side to secure them in position and to ensure that the slot opening of the straight slot remains blocked by the stop block even when there is external force exerted on them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a main view of a fast-load weight plate system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a fast-load weight plate system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a fast-load weight plate system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fast-load weight plate system according to the other preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Index of Elements: 1—Weight plate; 1.1—Holding Cavity; 1.2—Socket; 1.3—Recess; 1.4—Weight Bearing Bump; 2—Straight slot; 2.1—Limit End; 2.2—Slot Opening; 3—Stop Block; 3.1—Catching Part; 4—Limit Rod; 4.1—Waist-Shaped Hole; 5—Drive Rod; 5.1—Handle; 6—Connecting rod; 7—Spring; 8—Locking Shaft.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The following text, together with the drawing sheet, presents a clear and complete description of the embodiments of the present invention, obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without making creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 -FIG. 3 , a fast-load weight plate system provides the weight plate 1, a linkage assembly 2, and a stop block 3. The weight plate 1 is provided with a straight slot 2 arranged in a radial direction. The straight slot 2 is provided with a limit end 2.1 located in the middle of the weight plate 1 and a slot opening 2.2 all the way to the outer edge of the weight plate 1. The stop block 3 is rotatably connected to the weight plate 1 and located outside the straight slot 2. One end of the linkage assembly is movably attached to the weight plate 1 and the other end is rotatably attached to the stop block 3, and the linkage assembly rotates the barbell 3 into the straight slot 2 to secure the barbell positioned in the limit end 2.1.

The above-mentioned arrangements allow the weight plate 1 to be directly inserted into the barbell along the radial direction through the straight slot 2 on the weight plate 1, which then rotates the stop block 3 by means of the linkage assembly to block the slot opening 2.2 of the straight slot 2, to secure the barbell between the limit end 2.1 of the straight slot 2 and the stop block 3.

In this embodiment, a holding cavity 1.1 is arranged inside the weight plate 1, and both the stop block 3 and the linkage assembly are located inside the holding cavity 1.1 for protecting the stop block 3 and the linkage assembly from the damage caused by bumping. The straight slot 2 in this embodiment is located in the lower part of the weight plate 1 and the socket 1.2 is located in the upper part of the weight plate 1. However, in practice, it is not necessary to strictly pre-define the specific location of the straight slot 2 or the socket 1.2, which can be anywhere around the weight plate 1, as long as the two do not overlap.

As an optimization of the above-mentioned embodiment, the larger part of the holding cavity 1.1 is in the upper part of the weight plate 1, which pushes the center of gravity of the weight plate 1 down to its lower part and ensures that the center of gravity of each loaded weight plate remains at its lower part, so that the issue of unstable center of gravity caused by uneven weight distribution can be avoided for physical training, and the weight plate can be easily unloaded from the barbell; the upper side wall of the limit end 2.1 of the straight slot 2 is provided with a curved weight-bearing bump 1.4 to compensate for the reduced strength of the part connecting the weight plate 1 and the barbell caused by the holding cavity 1.1.

It should be noted that the linkage assembly and the stop block 3 can be directly arranged on the outer face of the weight plate 1, at which point the stop block 3 can still block the slot opening 2.2 of the straight slot 2.

The linkage assembly comprises a drive rod 5 and a limit rod 4, the central part of the limit rod 4 is provided with a pin through which the limit rod 4 is rotatably connected to the weight plate 1. One end of the limit rod 4 is movably connected to the stop block 3. The side of the weight plate 1 is provided with a socket 1.2 all the way to the holding cavity 1.1. The drive rod 5 is slidably inserted into the socket 1.2, and it comprises a first end located outside the weight plate and a second end located inside the holding cavity 1.1. The second end of the driving rod 5 pushes the limit rod 4 to rotate, so that the user can easily adjust the rotation angle of the stop block 3 by pushing and pulling the limit rod 4.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned connection between the limit rod 4 and the stop block 3, wherein the end of the limit rod 4 is provided with a waist-shaped hole 4.1. The stop block 3 is provided with a pin inside the waist-shaped hole 4.1 to movably connect the limit rod 4 and the stop block 3 for the easy mounting of the linkage assembly; the above-mentioned movable connection can also be achieved in other forms, such as using a sliding slot instead of the waist-shaped hole 4.1, with the pin slidably connecting in the sliding slot, which also allows a rotatable and slidable connection.

As an optimization of the above-mentioned embodiment, wherein the linkage assembly also comprises two pieces of connecting rod 6. There are two pairs of the stop block 3 and the limit rod 4. Both are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the straight slot 2, with one end of each connecting rod 6 hinged to the other end of each limit rod 4 and the other end of each connecting rod 6 hinged to the second end of the drive rod 5, which allows the stop block 3 to be better secured on the barbell; a spring 7 is provided between the first end of the drive rod 5 and the inner side wall of the holding cavity 1.1. The spring 7 pushes the drive rod 5 to slide toward the holding cavity 1.1, which then rotates the stop block 3 into the straight slot 2 to block the slot opening 2.2 of the straight slot 2; obviously, if the spring 7 is not provided, the adjustment and maintenance of the rotation angle of the stop block 3 can also be achieved by the damping force between the drive rod 5 and the socket 1.2.

Further, the stop block is provided with an arc-shaped catching part 3.1 on one side toward the limit end 2.1 of the straight slot 2, and the distance between the two pieces of stop block 3 on the side near the slot opening 2.2 of the straight slot 2 gradually decreases in the direction toward the limit end 2.1, so that the barbell can directly squeeze through the area between the two pieces of stop block 3 from the outside until it reaches the limit end 2.1 of the straight slot 2, at which time the stop block 3 is pushed back into the straight slot 2 by the spring, and then the barbell is in contact with the catching part 3.1 on the stop block 3. Therefore, the automatic securing process is effectively completed.

In addition, the first end of the drive rod 5 is provided with a rotatable handle 5.1, and the outer side of the weight plate 1 is provided with a recess 1.3 to house the handle 5.1, and the stop block 3 blocks the slot opening 2.2 of the straight slot 2 when the handle 5.1 is in contact with the bottom of the recess 1.3, and the stop block 3 unblocks the slot opening 2.2 of the straight slot 2 when the handle 5.1 is in contact with the outer side of the weight plate 1, so that the user can easily lift and turn the handle 5.1 to adjust the position of the drive rod 5, and can easily pick up the weight plates 1 when they are stacked together.

As shown in FIG. 4 , in another embodiment, wherein a locking shaft 8 is provided, the weight plate 1 is provided with a through hole 1.4 along the axial direction between the stop block 3 and the side wall of the holding cavity 1.1. The locking shaft 8 is removably inserted into the through hole 1.4, so that when multiple weight plates 1 are loaded onto the barbell, the locking shaft 8 can be inserted into the through hole 1.4 of each loaded weight plate 1 located on the same side to better secure them, so that the slot opening 2.2 of the straight slot 2 stays blocked by the stop block 3 even when there is external force exerted on them; the locking shaft 8 and the through hole 1.4 may be removably connected with a thread or a snap-fit mechanism, which is not pre-defined by this design.

Comparing to the conventional side-loading method, this solution requires less loading space for weight plate 1, and allows each weight plate 1 located on the inside of the barbell to be loaded or unloaded independently, which is more convenient and practical.

This is the detailed description of the present invention, wherein specific examples have been provided herein to illustrate the principles and certain embodiments of the present invention, and the description of the above-mentioned embodiments is only for explaining the method of the present invention and its core ideas. It should be understood that for a person of ordinary skill in the field changes, replaces and modifies these embodiments without departing from the principles of the present invention, the replacement and modification shall also be defined by the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fast-load weight plate system, comprising a weight plate (1), wherein a linkage assembly and a stop block (3) are provided, the weight plate (1) is provided with a straight slot (2) arranged in a radial direction, the straight slot (2) is provided with a limit end (2.1) located in the middle of the weight plate (1) and a slot opening (2.2) all the way to the outer edge of the weight plate (1), the stop block (3) is rotatably connected to the weight plate (1) and located outside the straight slot (2), one end of the linkage assembly is movably attached to the weight plate (1) and the other end is rotatably attached to the stop block (3), and the linkage assembly rotates the limit block (3) into the straight slot (2) to secure the barbell positioned in the limit end (2.1).
 2. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 1, wherein the weight plate (1) is provided with an internal holding cavity (1.1), the stop block (3) and linkage assembly are all located inside the holding cavity (1.1).
 3. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 2, wherein a straight slot (2) is located in the lower part of the weight plate (1), the larger part of the holding cavity (1.1) is in the upper part of the weight plate (1), which pushes the center of gravity of the weight plate (1) down to its lower part.
 4. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 3, wherein the holding cavity (1.1) is provided with a curved weight-bearing bump (1.4) on the upper sidewall of the limit end (2.1) of the straight slot (2).
 5. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 4, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a drive rod (5) and a limit rod (4), the limit rod (4) is rotatably connected to the weight plate (1), one end of the limit rod (4) is movably connected to the stop block (3), a socket (1.2) all the way to the holding cavity (1.1) is arranged on the side of the weight plate (1.2), the driving rod (5) is slidably inserted in the socket (1.2), the driving rod (5) comprises a first end located outside the weight plate (1) and a second end located inside the holding cavity (1.1), the second end of the driving rod (5) is used to rotate the limit rod (4).
 6. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 5, wherein the limit rod (4) is provided with a waist-shaped hole (4.1) at the end, the stop block (3) is provided with a pin snap-fitted inside the waist-shaped hole (4.1) to moveably connect the limit rod (4) and the stop block (3).
 7. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 5, wherein two pieces of connecting rod (6) are provided, there are two pairs of the stop block (3) and the limit rod (4) both symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the straight slot (2), with one end of each connecting rod (6) hinged to the other end of each limit rod (4) and the other end of each connecting rod (6) hinged to the second end of the drive rod (5).
 8. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 7, wherein a spring (7) is provided between the first end of the drive rod (5) and the inner side wall of the holding cavity (1.1), the spring (7) pushes the drive rod (5) to slide toward the holding cavity (1.1), which then rotates the stop block (3) into the straight slot (2).
 9. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 8, wherein an arc-shaped catching part (3.1) is provided on one side of stop block (3) toward the limit end (2.1) of the straight slot (2), and the distance between the two pieces of stop block (3) on the side near the slot opening (2.2) of the straight slot (2) gradually decreases in the direction toward the limit end (2.1).
 10. A fast-load weight plate system according to claim 7, wherein the drive rod (5) is provided with a rotatable handle (5.1) at a first end, the weight plate (1) is provided with a recess (1.3) on its outer side to house the handle (5.1), and the stop block (3) blocks the slot opening (2.2) of the straight slot (2) when the handle (5.1) is in contact with the bottom of the recess (1.3), and the stop block (3) unblocks the slot opening (2.2) of the straight slot (2) when the handle (5.1) is in contact with the outer side of the weight plate (1). 